Middle English Dictionary Entry
winlī adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | winlī adv. Also (early SWM) wunliche & (error) wyuly. |
| Etymology | OE wynlīce; also cp. ME winlī adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) In an agreeable or pleasant manner, delightfully, pleasingly; also, ?so as to be pleasing (to God) [quot. a1425 HBk.]; graciously, courteously; also iron. [last quot.];
(b) joyfully, gladly, willingly;
(c) with diminished force: handily, with ease; ?also, swiftly;
(d) ?excessively; ?error for wanliche adv.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1800 : Sone werð þe alde king wunliche iæðeled.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)749 : Þat was a perles place for ani prince of erþe, and wynli wiþ heie wal…was closed al aboute.
- a1425 HBk.GDei (Hnt HM 148)48/6 : Þe prayand call his hert home fro þe werlde, als fer forth als he may, þat he wynly pray to God to whom he prayes.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)93/7 : Sho was…lufd of all men þat hir knew…scho was so wynly wroght, Ful mani vnto hir fader soght.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)671 : As þow will answere before the austeryn jugge, That all þis werlde wynly wysse as hym lykes, Luke þat my laste wyll be lelely perfournede!
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2185 : He weyndes to þe wyese kynge, and wynly hym gretes.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)12645 : He…hewed down trese…to make a howse þem forto hyde, whore þei myȝt wynly wun fro wynd and wedders wete.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)16057 : A chambre was wynly wroyȝt for Thoby and for his wyf.
- a1500 Degrev.(Cmb Ff.1.6)495 : Madam…Wer hit not for your sake, Y schall hym wynly [Thrn: unwynly] wake Or to-morrow it wer day.
- c1650(a1450) Death & L.(Pcy)80 : Shee welcometh them ffull winlye with words ffull hend.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15950 : He Peteres weofed þere wunliche isohte.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)26914 : In gode pes at þe laste Winlie out of þis warld he paste.
- ?c1450 PPl.A(2) (Mrg M 818)12.46 : I schal the wyssyn wynlyche qwere that he dwellyth.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3359 : Thou shalt haue…me, þat am mete & of more power þen hym þat þou hade and held for þi lorde, Wyuly [read: Wynly] to weld, & I the wed shall, To lede with þi lyf as a leale spouse.
- c1650(a1450) Death & L.(Pcy)75 : Breme birds on the boughes busilye did singe, & all the wild in the wood winlye the ioyed.
c
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5545 : In at a wicket he went & wynly it speris.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1165 : Jason full iustly and Joly knightes moo…Wonen vp wynly vppon wale horses.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8655 : His sheld on his shulders shot was behynd, And his brest left bare, so the buerne Rode, To weld hym more winly þat worthy [prisoner] to lede.
d
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)476/103 : What ayles yow women, for wo þus wynly to wepe?